Student Privacy Rights

Privacy rights for students

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs:

The release of education records maintained by an educational institution
The access to these records

As a student you have the right to:

Inspect and review your education records
Request amendment of your education records
Limit disclosure of some personally identifiable information known as directory information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the college receives a request for access.

Students should submit to the TSCC registrar, dean, head of the academic department or other appropriate TSCC official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The TSCC official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the TSCC official to whom the request was submitted, the official shall advise the student of the correct TSCC official to whom the request should be addressed.

The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

Students may ask TSCC to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the TSCC official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If TSCC decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, TSCC will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

TSCC discloses education records without a student's prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to TSCC officials with legitimate educational interests. A TSCC official is a person employed by TSCC in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee.

A TSCC official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of TSCC who performs an institutional service or function for which TSCC would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of TSCC with respect to the use and maintenance of personally-identifiable information from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another TSCC official in performing his or her tasks. A TSCC official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for TSCC.

Upon request, TSCC discloses education records, without a student's consent, to officials of another school, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. In addition, TSCC discloses education records, without a student’s consent, to: specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of TSCC; Accrediting organizations; To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

The right of nondisclosure of designated directory/public information.

Students who do not want their directory/public information released to third parties or students can update their status in Banner Self-Service. Please note that if the release is set to "Please restrict my directory information," your student name will not be included in newspaper articles for Dean's List or for graduation, including the commencement program.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Please go to https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint and click “FERPA Complaint Form” below to access the complaint form. Once you have completed the form, you may either e-mail it to SPPO at FERPA.Complaints@ed.gov, or mail it to the following address:
U.S. Department of Education
Student Privacy Policy Office
400 Maryland Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520

TSCC has designated the following items as directory/public information that may be released to the public without the student's consent:

student's name;
residence hall,
mailing, and home addresses;
local or landline, cell (if designated as public), and permanent telephone numbers;
TSCC email address;
current major program(s);
participation in officially recognized activities and sports;
weight and height of members of athletic teams;
dates of enrollment at TSCC;
degrees and awards received from TSCC, including dates and major programs;
previous educational agencies or institutions attended by the student;
student's "also known as" (AKA) name;
student standing and degree level (1st year undergraduate, 2nd year undergraduate, etc.);
enrollment status (full time, etc.), including total hours enrolled by term;
primary advisor;
expected graduation date;
current college and campus;
residency status (Ohio resident, out-of-state student);
admission status (new, continuing, etc.);
record hold(s);
photographs;
and deceased status.